Lott doing the right thing, Republicans aren't
Trent Lott is not resigning his Senate Majority Leader post (at least not yet) but Republican Senators are ignoring the opportunity he is offering them. If he stays and forces Republicans to force him out, they will be taking a clear stand against racism, something they need to be seen doing.
But they have been reluctant criticize him, much less call for his ouster, and this could hurt them in the next elections when Democrats accuse them of supporting Lott's and Thurmond's segregationist views. Not that they necessarily have such views today, but the Donks will certainly say so.
If he does step down, without Republican criticism, the silence remains and the accusations will still fly.
It is a little unfair to let a single sentence topple Mr. Lott. And for the additional "problems" that have come to light, they have all been public record for as much as forty years. If they are problems now, why weren't they a month ago?
The real problem is that in resisting the calls to step down, he is showing more backbone than at any time since he became Republican Leader. His party needs someone in the post whose idea of leadership is something stronger than meeting the opposition halfway on every issue.
Perhaps there is a coup in the making. It would make sense not to criticize the leader until it is certain that he will no longer be in a position to retaliate. Maybe someone will announce in the coming days that they have the votes to take the position from a leader who has lost their confidence by putting his own position ahead of the party's good.
We can hope.
